Jasper city councilman Willie Land speaks during the "Justice for Jasper" meeting at New Lighthouse COGIC Ministries, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, in Jasper, Texas. Rodney Pearson, who was named Chief of police in Jasper, by the city council, but was disputed by citizens in the community, which has sparked debate in the city, dividing the city along racial lines. Several citizens in Jasper have signed a petition asking to recall council members Terrya Norsworthy, Tommy Adams, and Land. This, as the state of Texas prepares to put the first of the James Byrd killers to death in three weeks. ( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: Karen Warren, Staff

Jasper city councilman Willie Land speaks during the "Justice for...

Jasper mayor Mike Lout
Photo: Pete Churton

Jasper mayor Mike Lout

Vickie Stewart talks about the petition asking for the recall of several Jasper city councilmen, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, in Jasper, Texas. Rodney Pearson, who was named Chief of police in Jasper, by the city council, but was disputed by citizens in the community, which has sparked debate in the city, dividing the city along racial lines. Several citizens in Jasper have signed a petition asking to recall council members Terrya Norsworthy and her fellow councilmen Willie Land and Tommy Adams.This, as the state of Texas prepares to put the first of the James Byrd killers to death in three weeks. ( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: Karen Warren, Staff

Vickie Stewart talks about the petition asking for the recall of...

The "Welcome to Jasper" sign, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, in Jasper, Texas. Rodney Pearson, who was named Chief of police in Jasper, by the city council, but was disputed by citizens in the community, which has sparked debate in the city, dividing the city along racial lines. Several citizens in Jasper have signed a petition asking to recall council members Terrya Norsworthy and her fellow councilmen Willie Land and Tommy Adams. This, as the state of Texas prepares to put the first of the James Byrd killers to death in three weeks. ( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: Karen Warren, Staff

The "Welcome to Jasper" sign, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, in Jasper,...

The back of the "Welcome to Jasper" sign, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, in Jasper, Texas. Rodney Pearson, who was named Chief of police in Jasper, by the city council, but was disputed by citizens in the community, which has sparked debate in the city, dividing the city along racial lines. Several citizens in Jasper have signed a petition asking to recall council members Terrya Norsworthy and her fellow councilmen Willie Land and Tommy Adams. This, as the state of Texas prepares to put the first of the James Byrd killers to death in three weeks. ( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle )
Photo: Karen Warren, Staff

If Jasper didn't have a history, the city council's decision to fire its first black police chief Monday night might be considered "small-town politics."

But in a town that has worked for so long to shed the negative image it earned after James Byrd Jr., a black man, was dragged to death by three white men in 1998, people can't help but bring up race.

"We came out of that Byrd murder OK," former Jasper County Sheriff Billy Rowles said. "It was a horrible and horrific crime, and lots of things were said about us that we proved weren't true."

But in the last year and a half, Rowles said the controversy surrounding Rodney Pearson's hiring - which included a recall of the black council members who voted to hire him - has "disintegrated" the image the town "fought tooth and nail to change."

The council fired Pearson Monday in a 4-1 vote during a tense, three-hour meeting. During that time, council members questioned Pearson about the hours he's worked since being appointed chief, and his failure to appear at some recent crime scenes.

In an emergency meeting Tuesday, Jasper's City Council appointed Harlan Alexander as interim chief.